Contepomi opts for consistency in second Test against Australia
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi made four changes Thursday for their return clash with Australia, while Santiago Carreras reverts to fullback as they look to snap a three-game losing streak.
*Also read: Kiss rings the changes for Los Pumas rematch
Los Pumas conceded two tries early last week in San Salvador to crash 21-27, and Contepomi has shaken up his forward pack.
Efrain Elias and Franco Molina link up as the locks, with Tomas Lavanini benched and the experienced Guido Petti shifting to flanker in place of the dropped Benjamin Grondona.
Pedro Delgado is preferred at tighthead prop to Francisco Moreno, partnering loosehead Boris Wenger.
Carreras played at flyhalf last week, but returns to fullback with Geronimo Prisciantelli left out of the matchday 23 and Nicolas Roger assuming the playmaker role at No.10.
Contepomi included two potential debutants on the bench – Facundo Cardozo and Mateo Soler.
Argentina: 15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Faustino Sanchez Valarolo, 11 Ignacio Mendy, 10 Nicolas Roger, 9 Simon Benitez Cruz, 8 Joaquin Moro, 7 Guido Petti, 6 Pablo Matera (captain), 5 Franco Molina, 4 Ephrain Elias, 3 Pedro Delgado, 2 Ignacio Ruiz, 1 Boris Wenger
Replacements: 16 Leonel Oviedo, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Francisco Moreno, 19 Tomas Lavanini, 20 Juan Martin Scelzo, 21 Facundo Cardozo, 22 Gaonzalo Bertranou, 23 Mateo Soler
Date: Saturday, September 5
Venue: Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza
Kick-off: 18.00 ART (21.00 GMT; Sunday, September 6, 07.00 AEST)
Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
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